Divorce Early Signs
Over 175 Years of Combined Experience in Family Law

Early Signs Your Marriage Is Falling Apart

Insight from Our Orange County Divorce Attorneys

While many marital relationships last forever, several begin crumbling
after a few years, and close to half of all marriages in the US end in
a divorce. The quirks, behaviors, and habits that people find endearing
about each other at the start of a life journey may sometimes begin to
feel like a burden as the years go by. Below are early warning signs that
your marriage may be falling apart. If you notice these, you should take
an active role and attempt to resolve them before a divorce becomes inevitable.

1. You Both Used to Talk a Lot, but Now You Hardly Do

Communication is the foundation of a healthy relationship. In a strong
marriage, either partner will want to talk to each other about their daily
lives, goals, memories, etc. The need for consulting, arguing, and listening
to each other’s opinions is the basis of an active connection between
married couples. If you don’t remember the last time you felt like
talking to your husband or wife, it may be time to work together and change
this behavior.

2. Contempt Is Slowly Taking the Place of Mutual Respect

When your partner talks, do you roll your eyes, sneer or make caustic comments?
People who have a healthy relationship value each other’s opinions
and thoughts and do not mind listening to the other’s viewpoint
with patience and understanding. This is even more important when they disagree.

No matter how annoying your partner’s argument may be, they deserve
your attention, time, understanding, and respect. If you feel that you
and your partner are becoming intolerant of each other’s feelings
or thoughts, chances are that your marriage is getting into trouble.

3. You Are Both Becoming Rigid in Your Arguments

Do you rush to defend your viewpoint during every argument with your spouse?
Do your discussions become endless sagas of heated comments in which neither
of you concedes, but only protects their own position?

A highly defensive and rigid stance signals that you do not want to participate
in a fair discussion with your partner. If every debate leaves you justifying
your actions or behavior, it is possible that the foundation of your marriage
is under stress.

4. Intimacy Is Rapidly Fading

Intimacy is integral to the close bond shared by a married couple. Intimacy
does not mean only sexual intimacy, but also romance, handholding, and cuddling.

If you can’t remember the last time you snuggled up to your partner
or had a date night, you may be in the midst of a withering marriage.
An intimate bond adds a higher dimension of closeness and affection to
a married relationship, and the lack of it could be quite detrimental
to it in the long-term.

5. Every Little Effort for the Spouse Feels Like too Much Effort

If making the tiniest of effort for your spouse feels like a huge burden,
it may be a sign of trouble. In a healthy marriage, you feel motivated
to care for each other. Tending to a spouse who is ill, or planning a
sumptuous breakfast spread seem like activities born out of concern for
each other’s happiness and well-being.

6. You Start Shutting Off or Disconnecting Emotionally

The lack of empathy is another sign of a collapsing marriage. A marriage
is made of two people, each of whom has an equal role in driving the relationship
forward. But what happens if you stop empathizing with your partner? Sometimes
you may start feeling that your spouse’s problems are not yours
and begin distancing yourself from him or her.

Your partner might try to connect with you or share some issues, but you
don’t want to get involved or give your opinion. This usually happens
when you feel that you both do not value each other’s views enough.

7. Two Negatives Don’t Make a Positive

Positive interaction between married couples is respectful and cheerful.
Arguments will happen sometimes, but the couple is not demeaning or scornful
of each other.

However, if the arguments with your spouse seem more like quarrels than
the airing of strong opinions, your marriage could be developing some
very early cracks.

A fight does not mean that there’s a problem in your marriage, but
constant negativity and hurtful arguments may indicate that you are losing
the basic affection and regard for each other.

8. Your Spouse’s Absence Makes You Happier

Most happily married men or women await their spouse’s return from
work and cherish each other’s company. Two partners can also have
separate hobbies and friends, but at the end of the day, they want to
share quality time with their partner.

But if you feel relieved or less stressed when your spouse is away or not
around you, it could be a sign that your relationship is starting to fizzle out.

9. You Both Don’t Look Forward to a Brighter Future

Do you find yourself reminiscing about past activities that you shared
with your partner but have no recent memories of happy moments and togetherness?
A married couple often makes plans for their future and looks forward
to mutual growth and a prosperous and happy life together. However, you
may be increasingly feeling that the best time in your marriage is over
or is quickly fading.

10. When Two Worlds Collide

Do you withhold stuff from your partner? Are you suspicious of your partner
or unwilling to tell him or her about your life’s details? Honesty
is the key to developing a robust married bond and secrets can be devastating
to any relationship.

The reasons for wanting to keep things to yourself could be many but no
matter the cause, a couple who would rather hide their feelings and actions
than share them may slowly nearing the end of their life as a married couple.

Not all marriages are made in heaven. It may be time to take a good hard
look at your relationship with your spouse. Pay heed to the early warning
signs of a failing marriage and take firm steps towards restoring the
old charm and the warmth in your marital relationship once again.

A Proven Track Record

from Hundreds of Previous Clients

I thank them from the bottom of my heart, and I look forward to working with them in the future!

“Words cannot express my gratitude for the services provided for me and my daughter. Both Navid and Sana are amazing people and wonderfully gifted in what they do to help others. I feel like a huge ...”

- Emilie B.

He is truly OUTSTANDING and am so happy to have him on my case!!!

“I'm overall VERY happy with Navid and his work and support. He really brought it on during the hearing and far exceeded my expectations. He put me at ease and really fought for me. He made me feel so ...”

- Emily K.

They actually listened to me and valued my opinion.

“Thank you Navid Moshtael for taking such good care of me in my long- drawn out-ugly divorce. This firm clearly puts family first and really listens to you. I knew I was in good hands knowing how ...”

- Juli F.

Best Law Firm in Southern California

“This law firm is one of the best to work with. They work with you to get you that peace of mind. They treat you like family, they are very attentive to you, and they call you to see how you are doing. ...”

- Roger H.

He is intense, informative, practical, yet very aggressive in the courtroom.

“Attorney Moshtael is our family law attorney. We were settling custody issues and a very serious domestic violence issue. He happened to be in the right place at the right time and leaned over to ...”

The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.